Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha

Honda Giken Kogyo K.k.

Kazuhiko Shimada

Katsuhiko Masuda

Kazunori Shibuya

Tetsuro Hamada

Tetsurou Hamada

Hiroshi Ikegami

Shoji Tokushima

Kunitaka Furuya

Masami Takano

Yoshinobu Ezure

Makoto Watanabe

Naoya Akama

Yasuji Shibahata

Etsuo Fujii

Noboru Ashikawa

Tetsuji Muto

Shyoji Tokushima

Shinji Sakuma

Shojji Tokushima

A power transmitting apparatus on a four-wheel-drive motor vehicle can distribute and transmit drive power from a power unit to front and rear drive road wheels such that the rotational speeds of the front and rear drive road wheels can differ from each other. The power transmitting apparatus includes a casing rotatable by the drive power from the power unit, an output shaft disposed in the casing, first and second planetary gear mechanisms disposed between the casing and the output shaft, the first and second planetary gear mechanisms comprising first and second ring gears fixed to an inner periphery of the casing, first and second sun gears aligned with the first and second ring gears, respectively, first and second planet gears meshing with the first ring and sun gears and the second ring and sun gears, respectively, and rotatable about their own axes and the ring gears, and a planet carrier coupled to the output shaft, the first and second planet gears being rotatably supported on the planet carrier, the first and second planetary gear mechanisms having different speed-changing ratios, one of the speed-changing ratios being selected such that the rear drive road wheels rotate faster than the front drive road wheels, first and second clutches coupled respectively to the first and second sun gears, respectively, for selectively holding the first and second sun gears nonrotatable thereby to enable the first and second planetary gear mechanisms to transmit the drive power, and a pair of variable-torque-transmitting clutches coupled to respective ends of the output shaft.

Power transmitting apparatus for four-wheel-drive motor vehicle

A dog clutch mechanism for use as a clutch for switching drive power in a four-wheel-drive vehicle has a case, first and second rotatable shafts rotatably supported coaxially in the case for transmitting a relative torque between front and rear wheels of the vehicle, and a dog clutch comprising a dog piece having first dog teeth and fixedly mounted on the first rotatably shaft and a hub having second dog teeth capable of axially meshing with the first dog teeth and axially slidably mounted on the second rotatable shaft. The dog clutch is selectively engageable for transmitting the relative torque between the first and second rotatable shafts. The first and second dog teeth having respective meshing tapered surfaces for producing thrust forces acting on the hub and tending to move the hub in a direction away from the dog piece when the vehicle is braked while a relative forward torque is being transmitted between the first and second rotatable shafts through the dog clutch.

Dog clutch mechanism

A torque transmitting device for transmitting torque by utilizing the viscosity of a fluid includes a casing having a cylindrical barrel having closed opposite ends, shafts rotatably supported in the casing in concentric relation to the cylindrical barrel, a fluid chamber defined by an inner peripheral surface and outer peripheral surfaces of the shafts, a plurality of annular outer plates disposed in the fluid chamber and rotatable with the casing, a plurality of annular inner plates disposed in the fluid chamber alternately with the outer plates and rotatable with the shafts, and a fluid filled in the fluid chamber. Torque can be transmitted between the casing and the shafts through the viscosity of the fluid present between the outer plates and the inner plates. Flow passages are defined in the fluid chamber and extending axially of the shafts for allowing the fluid to flow in the fluid chamber axially of the shafts.

Torque transmitting device

A dog clutch mechanism includes a case, first and second rotatable shafts rotatably disposed coaxially in the case, the second rotatable shaft having an annular groove defined in an outer periphery thereof, a dog piece fixedly mounted on the first rotatable shaft and having first dog teeth confronting an end of the second rotatable shaft, a hub axially slidably mounted on the second rotatable shaft and having second dog teeth meshingly engageable with the first dog teeth, the second dog teeth being movable out of meshing engagement with the first dog teeth under a thrust force in response to relative torque transmission between the first and second rotatable shafts. The hub has guide holes extending radially therethrough toward the second rotatable shaft and a plurality of balls are retained respectively in the guide holes are and engageable in the annular groove. A sleeve is axially slidably disposed on an outer periphery of the hub for engaging the balls and pressing the balls into at least the annular groove.

A drive mode selecting system for a four-wheel-drive motor vehicle includes a drive system for driving a first axle drive mechanism and a second axle drive mechanism, a clutch for selectively rigidly connecting the first and second axle drive mechanisms through the drive system for transmitting relative torque between the first and second axle drive mechanisms, and disconnecting the first and second axle drive mechanisms, a brake operation detector for detecting operation of a brake of the motor vehicle, an accelerator operation detector for detecting operation of an accelerator of the motor vehicle, and a controller responsive to detected signals from the brake operation detecting means and the accelerator operation detecting means for applying a disengaging signal to the clutch means to disconnect the first and second axle drive mechanisms when the detected signals indicate that the brake is operated and the accelerator is not operated.

Drive mode selecting system for four-wheel-drive motor vehicle

To the end of eliminating the problems arising from substantially rigid connection between a front wheel set and a rear wheel set in a four-wheel drive vehicle, there is provided a power transmission system in which a speed-dependent power transmission device is provided between the front wheel set and the rear wheel set so that both the wheel sets are substantially rigidly connected to each other in a low speed range and rotational power is transmitted only from the front wheel set to the rear wheel set in a high speed range. The power transmission device of this kind can be conveniently formed by a pair of one-way clutch elements which are connected between an input member and an output member in a mutually parallel relationship; one of the one-way clutch elements transmitting power from the input member to the output member in both the high and the low speed range while the other one-way clutch element transmits power only from the output member to the input member in the low speed range but does not transmit power in either direction in the high speed range. This speed-dependency can be accomplished by using one-way clutch sprag elements each having a gravitational center offset from its center of rolling motion for wedging between the input member and the output member.

Direction-dependent power transmission system

In a multi-axle drive vehicle having a first axle which is directly coupled to a power source, and a second axle which is coupled to the power source by way of a coupling such as a viscous coupling which is adapted to transmit torque as a mathematical function of a difference in rotational speed between its input end and output end, to the end of eliminating the problems arising from transmission of braking force between the wheels of difference axles, the vehicle is further provided with a clutch for selectively interrupting transmission of power from the power source to the second axle, a brake sensor for detecting activation of a brake system of the vehicle, and a control unit for activating the clutch when the brake sensor has detected activation of the brake system. The conditions for activating the clutch may further include that the vehicle is running at a high speed which may be detected either directly or from a shift position of the power transmission system of the vehicle.

Four wheel drive vehicle

A method and mechanism for selectively transmitting and interrupting power between an input shaft and an output shaft arranged in coaxial relation in which a rotary member is coupled to one of the shafts to provide first and second states therebetween and wherein in the first state the rotary member is free to rotate and rotation is transmitted between the input and output shafts, whereas in the second state the input shaft can rotate relative to the output shaft and transmission of rotation is interrupted. The rotary member and the one shaft are angularly rotated relative to one another between first and second relative positions in the first and second states, and rotation of the rotary member is halted by a disc brake in the second state.

Method and mechanism for selectively transmitting and interrupting

A drive power transmission device includes: a first shaft for receiving drive power transmitted from a drive source; a second shaft having a coupling shaft portion at a front end thereof; a coupling housing comprising a cover body having a front portion operatively coupled to a rear end of the first shaft and a rear portion including a central bearing portion in which a distal end of the coupling shaft portion is rotatably supported, and a tubular member having a front open end in which an outer circumference of the cover body is fitted and a rear boss end having a central through hole in which a proximal portion of the coupling shaft portion is rotatably supported, the cover body, the boss end, the coupling shaft portion, and the tubular member jointly defining a cylindrical fluid chamber filled with a fluid; a viscous shear coupling mechanism disposed in the fluid chamber for transmitting the drive power from the first shaft through the fluid to the second shaft; and a centrifugal clutch mechanism disposed between the coupling housing and the second shaft for transmitting the drive power from the first shaft to the second shaft.

Drive power transmission device

To the end of eliminating the problems arising from substantially rigid connection between a front wheel set and a rear wheel set in a four-wheel drive vehicle, there is provided a power transmission system in which a torque-dependent power transmission device is provided between the front wheel set and the rear wheel set so that both the wheel sets are substantially rigidly connected to each other in a low torque range and rotational power is transmitted only from the front wheel set to the rear wheel set in a high torque range. The power transmission device of this kind can be conveniently formed by a parallel combination of a one-way clutch and a torque limiter.

Torque-dependent power transmission system

A power transmission system suitable for use in a four-wheel drive motorcar. A torque generated from a power source is directly transmitted to a first axle, and it is transmitted to a second axle via a torque transmission device making use of viscosity of fluid. Between the power source and the second axle is provided torque limiter means for limiting a torque transmitted to the second axle to smaller than a preset value. Even if the torque transmission device should take a locked condition, an excessively large torque would not be exerted upon the respective parts in the power transmission system, and hence a torque transmission system can be made light in weight.

Power transmission system for vehicles

An improvement is provided in a differential gear which includes an input shaft, a differential casing adapted to be rotated by the input shaft, a differential pinion shaft radially extending within the differential casing and a plurality of differential pinion gears rotatably mounted on the differential pinion shaft. A pair of side gears having a rotation axis common to that of the differential casing and meshing with the pinion gears, and a pair of output shafts fixed to the side gears. The improvement comprises a centrifugal weight member slidably mounted on the differential pinion shaft and radially inwardly biased, and a multiple disc clutch provided between the differential casing and the output shafts. The clutch is adapted to be engaged in response to the radially outward movement of the centrifugal weight member.

Differential gear

A drive power transmission device includes an input carrier having a front portion for receiving drive power from a drive source and a tubular rear portion, a planetary gear mechanism having a sun gear disposed coaxially in the tubular portion of the input carrier, a plurality of planet gears meshing with the sun gear and rotatably supported on a periphery of the tubular portion, and a ring gear mounted concentrically on the tubular portion and meshing with the planet gears, a first output shaft coupled to and supporting the sun gear, an intermediate tubular member connectable to the first output shaft and a rear end of the tubular rear portion of the input carrier and disposed concentrically with the first output shaft, an outer tubular member connectable to the ring gear and disposed concentrically with the intermediate tubular member, a viscous shear coupling mechanism interconnecting the outer tubular member and the intermediate tubular member, and a second output shaft coupled to and supporting the outer tubular member. The viscous shear coupling mechanism comprises two groups of mutually interleaves plates disposed in a fluid chamber defined between the intermediate tubular member and the outer tubular member and filled with a fluid and fixedly fitted over the intermediate tubular member and in the outer tubular member.

Growing community of inventors

Tochigi, Japan

Kazuhiko Shimada